Quality of Life Comparison

If you lived in Taiwan instead of Thailand, you would:

live 5.3 years longer

In Thailand, the average life expectancy is 75 years (72 years for men, 78 years for women). In Taiwan, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 84 years for women).

Economy

make 2.8 times more money

Thailand has a GDP per capita of $17,900, while in Taiwan, the GDP per capita is $50,300.

be 79.2% less likely to be live below the poverty line

In Thailand, 7.2% live below the poverty line. In Taiwan, however, that number is 1.5%.

be 5.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Thailand, 0.7% of adults are unemployed. In Taiwan, that number is 3.8%.

spend 28.6% more on taxes

Thailand has a top tax rate of 35.0%. In Taiwan, the top tax rate is 45.0%.

Life

be 53.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Thailand, approximately 9.2 children die before they reach the age of one. In Taiwan, on the other hand, 4.3 children do.

have 24.5% fewer children

In Thailand, there are approximately 11.0 babies per 1,000 people. In Taiwan, there are 8.3 babies per 1,000 people.

Basic Needs

be 85.3% more likely to have internet access

In Thailand, approximately 47.5% of the population has internet access. In Taiwan, about 88.0% do.

Geography

see 51.3% less coastline

Thailand has a total of 3,219 km of coastline. In Taiwan, that number is 1,566 km.

Taiwan: At a glance

Taiwan is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 32,260 sq km. In 1895, military defeat forced China's Qing Dynasty to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan came under Chinese Nationalist control after World War II. Following the communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Beginning in the 1950s, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the local population within the governing structure. This process expanded rapidly in the 1980s. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist (Kuomintang or KMT) to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be management of sensitive relations between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of Taiwan's eventual status - as well as domestic priorities for economic reform and growth.